Luc Jose A.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Washington announced a contribution of 20 billion dollars in favor of Ukraine, a decision with significant consequences that hinges on the use of frozen Russian assets. Indeed, this measure is part of a broad G7 program aimed at supporting the Ukrainian war effort and maintaining economic pressure on Moscow. As the year 2025 approaches, the negotiations surrounding these frozen funds reveal the complex stakes of a conflict that is redefining international alliances and financial priorities.

The global geopolitical landscape is undergoing significant changes, and the BRICS, this group of emerging powers, is at the heart of this reorganization. As economic and political tensions with the West intensify, more than thirty nations have expressed their willingness to join this alliance at the annual summit currently taking place in Kazan from October 22 to 24, 2024. In the face of Western hegemony, the BRICS aim to reshape the balance of power and free themselves from the dominance of the dollar in international trade.

As the United States approaches a pivotal presidential election, the budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year has reached new highs, raising concerns about the viability of the public finances of the world's leading power. Indeed, with debt continuing to grow despite rising tax revenues, discussions around budget management have become central to the political debate.

The crypto market is going through a critical phase, where euphoria seems to be taking over caution. Indeed, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, a widely followed sentiment indicator in the industry, has reached a level of 73, an extreme greed zone. This index, designed to quantify investor optimism or fear, indicates that the market could be overheating. With a total market capitalization of over 2.23 trillion dollars, investors, whether institutional or retail, continue to inject capital into major cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, this climate of confidence could hide imminent risks of correction.

Tether (USDT), the largest stablecoin in the world, has just crossed a historic threshold of 120 billion dollars in market capitalization. This news, far from trivial, comes in the context of "Uptober," a traditionally favorable period for price increases of Bitcoin and other cryptos. While the crypto market is often unpredictable, the massive increase in the supply of stablecoins is often seen as a key indicator of growing investor appetite. As we stand on the brink of a new bullish wave, this signal suggests significant movements in the weeks to come.

The French real estate market is on the brink of undergoing a major upheaval. With the finance bill for 2025 currently under discussion, property owners find themselves at the center of significant tax reforms that could reshape the way real estate is taxed. Traditional tax deductions for capital gains, exemptions on primary residences, and other tax advantages that have benefitted investors in recent decades are now under scrutiny. These changes, which come amid a tense economic context and a sluggish real estate market, raise the question: how will property owners adapt to these new measures?

The shadow of quantum computing now hangs over the crypto universe. While Chinese researchers may have reached a key milestone by using a quantum computer to bypass traditional encryption systems, a crucial question arises: is the security of Bitcoin and other cryptos truly under threat? Quantum computers, capable of performing calculations that no classical machine could solve, are seen by some as a sword of Damocles hanging over current encryption protocols.

As governments seek to maintain control over their finances and close ever-growing budget deficits, a new enemy seems to be rising in their path: Bitcoin. The crypto, with its limited supply and decentralized nature, disrupts traditional economic models and forces some actors to consider radical measures. It is in this context that the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has newly published an explosive report suggesting that to maintain ongoing deficits, governments should either tax or outright ban Bitcoin. Such a shocking statement comes as the United States struggles to contain its national debt, which is reaching record levels, and as regulation of cryptocurrencies becomes a sensitive topic.

Bitcoin is on the brink of a new spectacular surge. Several signals are converging to indicate that the cryptocurrency could soon reach a new historical peak, driven by major economic factors and market developments. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs by regulators, massive accumulation of Bitcoins by large investors ("whales"), and the potential decrease in interest rates by the American Federal Reserve create an explosive cocktail for a potential bull run.

Amid revolutionary announcements, technological advancements, and regulatory turmoil, the crypto ecosystem continues to prove itself as both an unlimited territory of innovations and a battleground of regulatory and economic conflicts. Here is a summary of the most notable news from the past week surrounding Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance, Solana, and Ripple.

Today, a new statement is shaking up the crypto sphere. Indeed, Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy and a fervent supporter of Bitcoin, once again caught attention on CNBC with a bold prediction. According to him, Bitcoin could reach a staggering price of 13 million dollars within the next 21 years. This announcement is sure to provoke reactions, both for its ambition and for the outlook it projects on the global economy. While some see it as a visionary perspective, others remain more cautious in the face of these predictions.

Binance has just achieved an unprecedented feat. The world's largest crypto platform is once again at the center of the news thanks to reaching a total trading volume of 100 trillion dollars. This staggering figure, as symbolic as it is revealing, solidifies Binance's dominance in the sector.

On the occasion of the BRICS Business Forum, the nations of this emerging alliance unveiled their brand new cross-border payment system: BRICS Pay. This initiative represents a clear intent to reduce dependence on the US dollar, a currency still predominant in global transactions. As the BRICS seek to emancipate themselves from the financial influence of the United States, the creation of an autonomous payment system could very well redefine the rules of international trade.